EMLACE - operations

Start up, shut down procedures

System warm up times

24 hours - AMS

1 hour - Humidifier

30 minutes - CCN - pad soaking

TSI Nephelometer

Aethalometer

SMPS

10 Minutes - Radiance nephelometers

Independent systems

AMS (Derek)

Aerodyne AMS Monitoring Operations Handout

Once collecting data, the AMS is designed to operate unattended (unlike, say, the CCN counter) and just requires monitoring by the scientist on-duty. As resetting and recalibration procedures are somewhat complex, apparent malfunctions should be reported ASAP (24/7) to me (DCM) and I will take care of what needs to be done. My contact information is as follows:

Home phone:721-8055Office phone:766-4949Cell phone:760-9485

Checks to be performed at the start of (and occasionally throughout) your duty shift:

1) Is the filament glowing? (Look in end plate). It should be illuminating the chamber. If it’s dark in there, CALL!

2) Touch pump #2. If it’s too hot to touch, CALL, and perform pump current check (item #4 below).

3) Look through the Chopper window and verify (visibly) that the chopper is moving every 10 or so seconds. (You can see the chopper mount moving and the 15 mm diameter 4-arm white plastic cross partially rotate back and forth).

4) Turbo Pump Current Check. On the Turbo Pump Controller (pictured on the next page), select pump #2 with the rotary knob labeled #1 in the picture. Check that the toggle switch (labeled #10) in the picture is set to current, and read the current value in the display. For sampling it should be about 3.3 – 3.7 amps. If it drops below 3.0 amps or, more importantly rises above 4.0 amps CALL immediately! Using the selector knob (labeled #1) select each pump in turn and read (and note) the current values. Typical values are shown below for the sampling mode.

Typical turbo pump current values (note: there is no pump #1):

Pump # 2 3 4 5 6

Current (amps)3.551.260.280.220.32

If Pump#2 is < 3 or > 4  problems

4) Check the heater temperature (Thtr) on the AMS Electronics box , as follows:

Set rotary selector switch #9 (above picture) to “Heater Temperature”, and read and note value in the display. It should be about 570° ±15°C.

5) Using the same rotary selector knob, choose “Chopper Speed”. Note and record value. (Should be ~110 - 113).

6) Using the same rotary selector knob, choose “Pressure”. Read and note value. (Should be ~ 1.15 – 1.16).

7) Now take a look at the display on the monitor. When sampling, the instrument automatically cycles between the Mass Spectrum (MS) and the Time-of-Flight (TOF) modes every ten or so seconds.

Pictures of the screens in each mode are given below. Note that the spectra may look quite different from the illustrations.

The Mass Spectrum (MS) mode:

When the screen shows the MS mode, check that the display cycles between ‘BEAM BLOCKED’ and ‘BEAM OPEN’ (lower right).

Check and note the Flow Rate value given in the bottom left straw colored panel (‘F: 1.535’ in the example). If this value drops below 1.3, let me know. If it’s below 1.0, CALL immediately.

Read and note the Airbeam signal value, given as “AB MS” in the green panel of the diagnostics data display. Example shows 4.41e+6. It should be above 3.0e+6. If it’s 2.5e+6 – 3.0e+6 let me know. CALL if it’s below 2.0e+6 straight away.

Also read the MS/CAL value, immediately to the right of the Airbeam value. Example shows 1.24. This value will always be below 1.0 during the project. Let me know if it drops below 0.75 (not an emergency).

Check that the display below the ‘BEAM OPEN/BEAM CLOSED’ indicator says ‘Will save in xx m xx s at xx:xx in Run yyyy’, where the xx and yyyy values specify times and the run number. If the display says ‘Not Autosaving’, CALL immediately.

The Time-of-Flight (TOF) mode:

When the screen shows the TOF mode (as above), check and note the flow rate value in the straw colored panel (upper left). This is the F value (1.532 in the example).

Read and note the Airbeam signal value, given as “AB TOF” in the green panel of the diagnostics data display. Example shows 4.08e+6. It should be above 3.0e+6. If it’s 2.5e+6 – 3.0e+6 let me know. CALL if it’s below 2.0e+6 straight away.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURE e.g. IF THE POWER FAILS

For power failure, the alarm on the UPS will beep. Immediately

1) CALL me so that I can come over. (721-8055 then 760-9485)

2)ROTATE THE SAMPLING INLET VALVE (labeled in the photo) CLOSED. IT TURNS 90°.

3)ON THE COMPUTER KEYBOARD HIT ‘q’ TO STOP SAMPLING.

DO NOTHING ELSE FOR 20 MINS! If I have not arrived 20 minutes into the emergency, then if the power has not come back on,

4)CHECK THAT THE SAMPLE INLET VALVE IS CLOSED, AND TURN OFF THE TURBO PUMPS (switches 3 through 7) on the AMS Turbo Pump Controller.

5)TURN OFF THE HEATER, MULTIPLIER, AND CHOPPER POWER SWITCHES with the three switches on the AMS Electronics box.

6)TURN OFF THE POWER ON THE BALZERS (Pfeiffer) QMS ELECTRONICS CONTROL BOX (switch is on the front panel, lower left). No illustration of this controller box. It is the whitish-grey box mounted immediately above the white Tripp-Lite UPS.

7)TURN OFF POWER TO THE ELECTRONICS (SW3) AND THE TURBO PUMPS (SW2) on the AMS Power Supply, but do not turn off SW1, the power to the Diaphragm Pump.

8)EXIT THE PROGRAM (hit EXIT PROGRAM button). Shut down the computer as per usual.

If the power comes back on before the 20 minutes wait time are up, DO NOTHING other than steps 1 through 3 above.

Humidification system (CPU - Christopher) (Perry)

System Description:The humidification system consists of a humidification control head (Naphion), a humid purge air supply, a dry purge air supply and a LabView based controller. The aerosol sample is pulled through the control head, and the RH of the sample is increased or decreased according to a pre-determined ramp function.

Control of the RH of the sample is accomplished by switching in humid, or dry purge air and controlling the flow rate (and pressure) of the purge source.

Startup Procedure:

  1. Check that there is sufficient water in the water bath. The bath should be cleaned and re-filled with 4 liters of water before the start of an experimental intensive period.
  2. Power up the system by energizing the power strip on the bench. The power strip on the floor should always be on!
  3. It will take approximately 40 minutes for the bath heater to stabilize the temperature of the humidity bath.
  4. Boot the controller computer (Christopher) using the login: administrator, passwd: n2uwdata
  5. Double click the hpid2 shortcut icon to bring up the controller.
  6. Insure that a fresh Dri-rite dryer is attached to the system. If in doubt, replace the silica in the dryer. NOTE: Silica is not healthy to breath. Change silica under the fume hood.
  7. Empty the silica into a crucible and ‘cook’ it for at least 8 hours to dry it. Pour the dry silica in a labeled jar and close the lid tightly.
  8. Wait until the vacuum system is running, and verify connections per the connection diagram.
  9. After the system has had time to pre-heat, and the silica dryer has been checked, press the ‘RUN’ arrow on the LabView control window.
  10. The system will initialize by driving the RH to 25%, then starting the RAMP function.

NOTE: Do not change any of the settings on the LabView control panel!

Operational Checks:

  1. Monitor the ramp function of the process variable on the LabView control panel display. If it appears abnormal (i.e. slow or non-responsive):
  2. If the ‘ramp up’ function is not working properly, check the humidity bath connections and make sure that the system has not ingested liquid water.
  3. If the ‘ramp down’ function is not working correctly, check the Dri-rite dryer (change desiccant) and make sure that the system has not ingested liquid water.
  4. If the system has ingested liquid water, it will need to be purged with dry air for at least one hour.

Shutdown:

  1. Press ‘STOP’ button on the LabView panel. USE THE BUTTON, not the ‘STOP’ sign.
  2. Close the LabView application.
  3. Shutdown the computer.
  4. Turn off the top power strip.

Filter packs (Mark) - Filter change-outs

Frequency:Daily, during 1800 UTC checks and changes

Description:Pairs of filter cassettes are located in flow circuits “2” and “3a”. Each pair of cassettes, 4 in all, will be removed, physically protected, then placed in cold storage. The flow rate through the circuit will be checked upon removal of the exposed cassettes, and again upon installation of new cassettes. Cassettes will be handled with gloved hands, and stored in cold storage.

Equipment Needed:Dust free gloves, ziploc bags for exposed cassettes, standard screwdriver for hose clamps, electronic mass flow meter with adapter, clean protected replacement cassettes, Teflon tape. Project log book – record all activities and observations.

Safety: Wear safety glasses. Be especially careful if/when turning on the vacuum pump and opening flow lines to keep loose clothing and hair away from all openings and machinery.

Procedure:During the daily 1800 UTC (noon local) turnaround, filter cassettes will be replaced.

Note; The filter cassette holders are bulky, cumbersome, and mate plastic to metal. Handle and set down with caution. Wear dust free gloves when handling filter cassettes.

  1. Have on hand the appropriate filter cassette storage ziplocs, and the appropriate replacement filter cassettes, stored cool in a cooler.
  1. After turnaround procedures have been initiated, loosen the hose clamp and disconnect line 2 upstream of filters in 2a and 2b. Connect the flow meter with adapter and record the final filter flow rate on the appropriate ziploc and in the log book.
  1. One at a time, disconnect the quick-connects upstream of each cassette. With gloved hands, carefully remove each of the pair of 2a/2b filter cassettes. Cap and store the removed cassettes in their marked ziplocs. Record removal time/date on the ziploc and in the log book.
  1. With gloved hands, carefully remove each of the new pair of 2a/2b filter cassettes from their ziplocs and install them in the cassette holder. Use Teflon tape on the threads. Record the replacement time/date on the ziploc and in the log book. Carefully reattach the quick connects, and flow meter and record the installed filter flow rate on the appropriate ziploc and in the log book.
  1. Reconnect line 2 to the inlet manifold by carefully rotating it into its receiver. Use a light coat of vacuum grease if warranted. Evenly tighten the retaining hose clamp.
  1. Relocate to flow circuit 3. Disconnect the line to the Radiance Nephelometer.
  1. In like fashion as for flow circuit 2 above, measure the final flow rate, remove and store exposed filters, re-install new filters, re-connect lines and measure new initial flow rate for filter cassettes in line 3a and 3b.
  1. Reconnect the Radiance Nephelometer line. Reconnect line 3 to the inlet manifold and be sure to evenly tighten the hose clamp
  1. Double check that filters are in their appropriate ziploc, and that the ziplocs are labeled with on and off dates/times, and initial and final flow rates. Record all information in log book

Vacuum System (Don)

Power on

  1. Check to see the oil reservoir on the pump is not less than about 30% full.
  2. Insert the large plug attached into the wall - It is a unique twistlok, so fits just the one plug, on the wall behind the environmental chamber. It will fit just one way, and when fully engaged, will turn slightly to lock in place. This is 220VAC, low amperage, so there should not be any fire works, but if there is pull the plug out and get one of the staff to check it immediately.

To verify operation:

  1. Read pump-press on the Keck data system: it should be about 256 mb +-about 5 mb.
  2. If it is above 350 mb, the system is not funtional, probably because of a very large leak somewhere, which is likely to audibly hiss.
  3. If it is above 256 mb, something is likely to be going wrong - either with the pump, or because of smaller leaks in the system.

Power down - Unplug from the wall

Flow rate checks (Mark)

Frequency:Pre-, mid- and post-project.

Description:The flow rates leading to 3 of the 4 major sample flow circuits will be checked, recorded, and corrected if out of specification. Circuit 1 serves the PCASP and APS. Circuit 3b serves the Radiance Nephelometers. Circuit 4 serves the TSI Nephelometer and subsequent suite of instruments.

Equipment Needed:Gilibrator™ soap bubble flow meter, tubing and tubing adapters. Project log book – record all activities and observations.

Safety: Wear safety glasses. Be especially careful if/when turning on the vacuum pump and opening flow lines to keep loose clothing and hair away from all openings and machinery.

Procedure:The line of each circuit will be opened, the flow meter inserted, the flow checked and recorded, any corrections made, and the system returned to service.

Note; each circuit has a dis-connection point identified by a blue tape label.

  1. Have on hand the appropriate tubing and connectors, and have the Gilibrator™ readied for operation.
  2. With the vacuum/flow system operating at normal conditions, carefully disconnect (only one) circuit.
  3. Connect the flowing (vacuum) end of the flow circuit to the upper connector on the Gilibrator™.
  4. Measure the flow until stable, then record flow rate. Note any anomalies or unsteadiness.
  5. Remove the Gilibrator™ and connectors.
  6. Reconnect the flow circuit tubing, being sure to make an effective connection.
  7. Proceed until all three circuits are tested.
  8. Correct and problems and retest if necessary.

Keck CPU - Short version

  1. Plug PCASP in
  2. Click on Keck_Main.vi
  3. Create data file button should be green (don't touch unless black)
  4. Click on white go arrow
  5. Double click emlace folder, double click header file (largest number)
  6. Two black panel windows appear
  7. Click start recording - check that data are recording in bytes window
  8. Modify displays using buttons…

KECK DATA SYSTEM OPERATION - Long Version

Contact: Matt Burkhart, , 766-4150 (office), 399-4960 (cell)

COMPUTER STARTUP

Startup the KECK computer by pressing the ‘1’ button on the UPS below the right of the desk.

Log into the system with the following: Username: keck, Password: aerodas

Wait for the system to stop “starting up” … the pointer will no longer change to an hourglass.

DATA SYSTEM SOFTWARE STARTUP

Double click the shortcut icon labeled “Keck_Main.vi” … This will bring up the main window that controls the operation of the Keck Data System.

Before starting the system, ensure that the PCASP is plugged in (turned on). This will minimize the possibility of a serial port error/spike.

In the Keck_Main.vi window. Make sure the “Create Data File” button is green so a data file will be created for the session. Press the white “run arrow”  in the top left of the window to start up all of the associated data system files and start taking data.

When prompted, select the most current EMLACE header. This is in the directory:

C:\Keck\Headers\EMLACE and will be the named EMLACE_zz.kfg, where zz is the version. Choose the largest number, as this is the most current header.

At this point, many windows will “pop” and change places as the system starts up. The window labeled “Keck_Realtime_Display_Panel.vi” should end up on top after a minute or so. This is the main display window and should have two black strip charts in the center of it. Do not try operating the buttons in any window before the system has completely started

Verify that the time and date box are correct and that time is incrementing and data is displayed.

RECORDING A DATA FILE

To start recording a data file press the “Start Data File” button on the top right of the Keck Realtime Display. The button should turn green and after a short delay the “Data on Disk” light should be bright green and the “Bytes to disk” field should start incrementing. Data file names are the current date plus a letter signifying the order. i.e. 20050713c_raw.nc This means that this was the third file opened on July 13, 2005. Files are native netCDF format.

STOPPING DATA FILE RECORDING

To stop the recording of a data file. Press the “Start Data File” button so that it turns a dull green. Ignore the fact that the “bytes to disk” field keeps incrementing.

RESTARTING A DATAFILE

To restart a data file (with a new name), first stop the current file. Press the “Restart Data File” button. It should light green for an instant. A new data file has been created on disk. You may then start recording a data file as you normally would.

CHANGING DISPLAYS AND VARIABLES

Press the “Modify Displays” button in the top left of the display panel. This will bring up a window with many rows of variable names.

Use the matched arrows  to select the variable to display in that position. You may also use the “finger tool” to select from a list by clicking on the variable name you wish to change. You may change the “Digital Display” and “Chart” variables.

When finished, click the “Update Display” button to close this window and return to the display.

Note that when you change variables, the display panels refreshes and the charts restart, erasing any previous traces.

It is a good idea to run the “Modify Display” function after any header change to insure that the variables are mapped correctly.